Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Cha.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve dreamt for years of starting my own creative business. My husband and I would have countless conversations about what it would take to take that leap of faith.
That dream became a reality in 2020 right before the pandemic hit. We just received news that my dad’s cancer had progressed to stage 4/terminal and I found myself battling anxiety and difficulty sleeping. When COVID-19 officially hit the US and I was forced to work from home, I was able to find bits and pieces of joy and light through making clay earrings in the midst of the darkest time of my life. It started as a creative outlet, but starting this business saved me.
My dad was a small business owner for over 20 years and I saw what it took to run one. Even after cancer took his life, I knew he would be proud of me and would want me to strive in growing my business. Through the support of my family, friends, community, and strangers that put their trust in my business, I’m able to stand where I am and be proud of how far I have come in the last two years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When I first started my business, I felt unstoppable! Success was seemingly at my fingertips, but I quickly realized that I was living in my own fantasy.
I initially struggled a lot with comparison. A couple of months after I started Simply Yenni, the clay earring industry suddenly boomed. I knew of only 2 clay artists when I started, but I was suddenly coming across hundreds and even thousands of new clay artists on Instagram. I was frustrated since I initially viewed these new artists as competition, but over time, I found a sense of community and saw these artists as sisters just striving towards the same goal. “Community over competition.”
Additional challenges I’ve struggled with are mostly centered around time management. Working a full-time job while managing a small business is not for the weak hearted! With this also can come lack of motivation, difficulty with social media presence, consistency with launches, and imposter syndrome. I am still learning how to best manage my time, and I don’t think I’m close to any resolution just yet!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Simply Yenni creates handmade polymer clay jewelry and accessories to cater to the simple, elegant, bright woman. Everything is designed in the comfort of my home in Houston, Texas.
My mission with this business is to provide meaningful, affordable, & lightweight accessories that will remind women of the simplicity of God’s unending grace. I hope my brand and my products will encourage women to shine their light brightly, naturally, and freely onto those around them. I do my best to incorporate brightness, encouragement, and light into all of my work.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I absolutely love collaborations! I have partnered with multiple boutiques to create exclusive lines of jewelry, have participated in giveaways with other artists and/or influencers, and collaborated with other small business owners in doing a profit share.
If you cannot support through purchasing, you can always support my business by following and engaging with me @simplyyenni on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, along with sharing about my business with your friends and family.
Contact Info:
- Email: simplyyenni@gmail.com
- Website: www.simplyyenni.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/simplyyenni
- Facebook: facebook.com/simplyyenni
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplyyenni?lang=en
Image Credits
Sarah Cha
